Tractor.



H. H. BATES.

TRACTOR.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 1, I915- Patented Aug. 29, 1916.

3 SHEETSSHEET I.

Inventor Inventor H. H. BATES.

TRACTOR. APPucAnbN FILED JULY I. I9I5.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

O O O O O O O O OOO OOOOOO 0 O O O O O O 0 OOOOOO Patented Aug. 29, 1916.

H. H. BATES.

TRACTOR.

APPLICATION FILED IULY 1. I915.

lSHEETS-SHEET 3- Patented Aug. 29, 1916.

HARRY H. BATES,

OF JULIET, ILLINOIS, A.SSIGNOR T0 BATES MACHINE COMPANY, OF. J'OLIET, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

TRACTOR.

Patented Aug. 2%, 191 6..

Original application filed January 16, 191 1, SeriaLNo. 812,506. Divided and this application filed tfuly1, 1915. Serial No..37,512.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY H. Barns, a citizen of the United States, residing at J oliet, in the county ofWill and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and use-' ful Improvements, in Tractors, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to certain improvements in tractors, and particularly to improvements in that type or form of tractor which is intended for use on the farm for the pulling of farm implements and the like.

Still more particularly certain features of the invention adapt the tractor to use in the pulling of cultivators, although it will presently appear that certain features of the invention may be applied equally well to tractors not intended for such use, or for that matter not intended for use in pulling farm implements.

The present application a division of' my co-pendin application for Letters Patent of the United States, Serial No. 812,506, filed by me January 16, 1914..

The tractor disclosed in the present application is so constructed that it may be caused to easily follow sharp bends or turns in the direction of travel. This feature will give it a facilit and ease of operation rendering it useful in many classes of service from which other tractors are excluded. The tractor disclosed herein is peculiarly well adapted for use in connection with cultivators and the like. It is so constructed that it can be well used in the cultivation of rows .of-cornand other standing plants without injury to them. For this purpose the tractor is so constructed that it has a considerable clearance above the ground in those portions where such clearance is desirable for the purpose of permitting the tractor to ride over the tops of the growing plants. At the. same time the tractor is so constructed that the distance laterally between the guide or steering wheels can be adjusted from time to time in order to conform the same as nearly as may be to the lateral distance between the rows of corn bills or other plants.

In the construction disclosed herein I have so correlated the parts that the aforementioned lateral adjustment of the steering wheels can be secured while at the same time maintaining the desired clearance above the ground, and also maintaining the ability to successfully and properly negotiate sharp bends or turns.

Another feature of the invention has reference to the provision of a frame of peculiar shape and construction so as to combine great mechanical strength and rigidity with lightness and cheapness of construction.

Other objects and uses will appear from a detailed description of the invention which consists in the features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter described and claimed. 7

Referring to the drawings: Figure 1 shows a side elevation of the completed tractor towhich the present invention relates; Fi 2 shows a front elevation corresponding to ig. 1; Fig. 3 shows a rear elevation cor: responding to Fig. 1; Fig. 4 shows a plan view of the assembled tractor; andFig. 5 shows a detail view of'the link construction whereby the steering wheels are simultaneously controlled and whereby the distance between them may be adjusted from time to time according to requirements.

In the several figures the numeralti designates the engine and the numeral 7 the radiator for the cooling water. The tank 8 is provided for carrying fuel and. lubricating oils. The particular construction illustrated makes use of a caterpillar 9 for securing traction on the ground, and as is best shown in Figs.,2 and 3 this caterpillar is mounted centrally and in the rear portion of the structure. The control device 10 extends rearwardly from the structure and carries the necessary controlling wheels and handles for controlling the fuel su ly to the engine, the osition of the sparfi, the position of the c utch transmission, and steering wheels. The detailed construction of these features forms the particular subject matter of the aforementioned application, Serial No. 812,506, and for that reason I will not herein describe the same in detail. I will,

however, state that among the controlling elements is the steering wheel 11- which rocks a longitudinally extending shaft or rod 12,

connection for this purpose being efiected through the univers joint 13 and the belt or chain connection 14. The forward end of the rod 12 carries the upstanding lever arm 15 which is connected to the steering the mainportion of the frame comprises'the' .links 27 longitudinally extending sills 16 and 17 which are joined together periodically and at their front and rear portions so as to give them the desired relative position and stability. v,For example, thebed of the engine may be provided with crosswise extending portions-which are connected to 'both of the sills and thus serve to join them together.

In 'the front portionoflthe .frame are the sidewise :projectin'garms .or beams 18 and 19 which have a suflicient length and side-. wise projection "permit the steering wheels 20 to be set apart the maximum dis-s tance which will be desired. The brace bars 21 have their rear ends carried down and rigidly connectedtothesills Hand 17 and they have their front ends .22 extended straightforward and connectedto the arms 18 and 19. These bracebars thus serve to rigidly space, and support the ends of the arms 18 and 19 with respect to the' sills.

Each pair of protrudlng arms 18 and 19 rests upon and is secured to a bracket 23 for one of the steering wheels. Each bracket in turn has the four blocks 24 which directly support the arms and may be connectedto them. For this purpose each arm is provided with a plurality of perforations 25,

and the blocks-24 have, corresponding perforations'so spaced that at each positlon of the bracket 23 all of its blocks 24 may be joined to the arms b means of bolts or pins .extended through t e proper perforations.

Each bracket 23 rests upon thecorresponding fork 26, said fork havinga pin extending up through the bracket and terminating inacontrol arm 27 The steering wheels are carried b" the forks 26.

Referring particu arly to Figs. 2 and 5 the upstanding lever arm 15 of the steering rod 12 has its upper end connected by the and 28 with the lever arms 29 and 30. These lever arms in turn are secured to the rock shafts 31 and 32, the upper ends of which ro'ck shafts carry the lever arms 33 and 34. These upper'lever arms are connected by the links 35 and 36 to the arms 27, the rods 35 and 36 being provided with perforations 37 whereby such connection can be effected at any position of lateral adjustrnent of .the steering wheels.

Reference particularly to Fig. 2 reveals the fact that the bars 18 and 19 project sidewise from the frame of the tractor at a conthe tractor,

actuating the steering ning the tractor along with the caterpillar will travel outside of said plant rows it follows that the tractor may be successfull used for the cultivation of plants regardless of the distance between the plant rows. Furthermore this form of construction is such that the lateral distance between the steering wheels is quite large, thus giving the tractor great stability and resistance against overturning.

While .I have herein shown and described only a single embodiment of the features of my invention, still it will be understood that I do not limit myself to the same, except as I- may .do so in the claims,

I claim:

1. In a tractorthe combination with a prime mover, of a caterpillar mounted in the central rear portion of the tractor, an

operative connectionfrom the prime mover to the caterpillar, a draw bar connected to the rear portion of the tractor, a steering wheel on each side of the front portion of the tractor, and means permitting adjustment of the steering wheels toward and from the center line of the tractor.

2. In a tractor the combination with a prime mover, of driving means mounted in the central rear portionof the tractor, an "operative connection from the prime mover to the driving means, a draw bar connected to the rear portion of the-tractor, wheel on each side of the front portion of and means permitting adjustment of the steering wheels toward and from the center lineof the tractor.

' 3. Ina tractor the combination with a prime mover, of driving means mounted in the central rear portion of the tractor, an operative connection from the prime mover wheel mounted on each side of the front ortion of the tractor, means permitting adustment of the steering wheels toward'and from the center line of the tractor, and means for simultaneously actuating the steering wheels in any adjusted position.-

4.. In a tractor the combinatlen with a prime mover, of driving means mounted in the central rear portion of the tractor, an operative connectlon from. the prime mover to the driving means, a draw bar connected to the rear portion of thetractor, wheel mounted on each side of the front portion of the tractor, means permitting lndependent adjustments of the steering wheels toward and from the centerline of the tractor, and means for simultaneously wheels in any ad justed position.

5. In a tractor the combination with a a steering a steering prime mover, of driving means mounted in to the rear portion of the tractor,

the central rear portion of the tractor, an operative connection from the prime mover to the driving means, a draw bar pivotally connected to the rear portion of the tractor to swing about a vertical pivot, a steering wheel on each side of the front portion of the tractor, means permitting independent ad ustment and from the center line of the tractor, and means for simultaneously actuating the steering wheels in any adjusted position.

6.. In a tractor the combination with a prime mover, of driving means mounted in the central rear portion of the tractor, an operative connection from the prime mover to the driving means, a draw bar connected 'to the rear portion of thetractor to swing about a vertical pivot, a steering wheel on each side of the front portion of the tractor, and means connecting each steering wheel to the tractor, said \means extendin sidewise at an elevation above the groun equal to or greater than the diameter of the steering wheels.

7. In a tractor the combination with a prime mover, of driving means mounted in the central rear portion of the tractor, an operative connection from the prime mover to the driving means, a draw bar connected to the rear portion of the tractor, a steering wheel on each side of the center line of the front portion of the tractor, and. means for connecting each steering wheel to the tractor, said connecting means being at an elevation above the ground equal to or greater than the diameter of the steering wheels.

8. In a tractor thecombination with a prime mover, of driving means mounted in the central rear portion of the tractor, an operative connection from the prime mover to the driving means, a draw bar connected to the rear portion of the tractor, a steering wheel on each side of the'front' ortion of the tractor, and a connection rom each steering wheel to the tractor, each such connection being mounted at an elevation above the ground equal to or greater than the diameter of the corresponding steering wheel.

9.. In a tractor the combination with a prime mover, of driving means mounted in the central rear portion of the same, an operative connection from the prime mover to the driving means,

a steering wheel on each side of the front portion of the tractor, means for connecting-each steering wheel to the tractor, said means per- 'tting adjustment of each steerin wheel toward and from the center line of t e tractor, and each of said means being mounted at an elevation above the ground equal to or greater than the diameter of the-corresponding steering-wheel.

' 10; In a tractor the combination with a prime mover, of driving means mounted in of the steering wheels toward mechanisms a draw bar connected for simultaneously actuating the steeringwheels in any adjusted position.

11. In a tractor, the combination with the prime mover, of driving means mounted in the central portion of the tractor, an operative connection from the prime mover to the driving means, a draw bar connected to the tractor, and an adjustable connection from each steering wheel to the tractor permitting adjustment of each steering wheel toward and from the center line of the tractor.

12. In a tractor, the combination with the prime mover, of driving means mounted in the tractor, an operative connection from the prime mover to the driving means, a draw bar connected to the tractor, supporting means on each side of the tractor, and an adjustable connection from each support ing means to thetractor permitting adjustment of such supporting means toward and from the center line of the tractor, for the purpose of adjusting the gage between the supporting means.

13. In a tractor,

for mounted to the rear having the controlling the major functions thereof, the combination with a prime mover, of driving means mounted in the tractor,an operative connection from the prime mover to the driving means, a draw bar connected to the tractor, adjustable supporting means on, each side of the tractor, and a connection from each supporting means to the tractor, each connection being mounted at an elevation above the ground greater ter of such supporting means.

14. In a tractor, the combination with a prime mover, of driving means mounted in the tractor, an operative connection from the prime mover to the driving means, steering wheels, and an adjustable connec tion from each steering wheel to the tractor permitting adjustment of each steering wheel toward and from the center line of the tractor.

tractor,a' steering wheel on each side of the than the shortest diame-' ":the' tractor, an

' the'prime mover to the driving means, steerthe rear portion of the tractor, connection from the prime tractor, and means permitting adjustment of the-steering wheels toward and from the I center line of the tractor.

driving means,

portion of the tractor, and

side of the front means permitting adjustment of the steer-- ing wheels toward'and from the center line of the tractor.

18. In a tractor, a pair of steering wheels, and an adjustable connection from one of said wheels to the tractor, permitting adjustment of the steering Wheel toward and from the center line of the tractor while maintaining the steering function.

19. In a tractor, a wheel located:

. atone side of the of the corresponding steering same, and means for ermitting adjustment of said steering w eel sidewise with respect to the tractor while maintaining the steering function.

20. In a tractor, the combination of suit- .able driving means located in its central rear portion, and suitable steering means on each side of the front portion, each of said steering means being adjustable toward and fromthe "centerline of the tractor, and means for functioning both of the steering means in unison in any adjusted position,

both of the steering means being symmetrically located with respect to the center line of the tractor.

21. In-a tractor, T-shaped frame, locatedon the central arm of the frame, and suitable steering means located on each of the side arms of the frame, each of said steering means being adjustable along the length of the arm to which it is connected, and means for functioning each steering means in. any adjusted position.

HARRY H. BATES.

the combination with a Witnesses: 4

Tnongms A. BANNING,

J r., WM. P. Bonn.

of suitable driving means- 

